The Bufalino Camping Scooter
That thing is just waiting for an invitation to tip over.
Keep the chassis, but have it drive “backwards”.
I strongly recommend a lightweight crash helmet.
Not for driving. For waking up with your head under that shelf.
I think the idea is the journey, not the destination.
The stability looks awful, but judging by the number of three wheeler taxis in India, it’s not utterly unfeasible.
Industrial design students: in search of a less comfortable golf cart since the early ’70s
Cool idea for an Industrial Design thesis, but not really all that appealing in real life for a lot of reasons, the most confusing issue is: why make a camper out of a vehicle not designed for long trips or highway driving? In that sense it’s more like a portable urban homeless shelter, but so is a minivan.
It is a beautiful look. I’ve been looking into building a teardrop trailer and most of them don’t look this good inside. I might have to save these images for inspiration later on…
You know there are people who go camping on 50cc Honda scooters in Europe? You would not believe how much luggage those things can carry.
I have just survived a New England USA winter in a slightly larger mobile environment and I assure you this design is workable, if spartan. There is ample roof space for a 100 to 150 watt solar panel, feeding a small MPPT charge controller and at least a single 100 ampere-hours battery and inverter for lighting, charging the laptop, headlamp and radio batteries, and driving a vent fan and internal comfort fan. This would add much to the persons quality of life. A small (20 lb or less) propane tank feeding a Little Buddy ™ heater (standard for gypsy life) and propane camp stove would complete the necessary appliances.
A person living in this environment could be happier than you might expect; he would likely spend as much time as possible outside the vehicle in bookstores and other public spaces and would likely enjoy a folding camp chair he could sit outside with, possibly under a canopy projecting off the vehicle. Having electrical power even if it must be carefully husbanded, heat, shelter, cooking facilities and a bit of privacy are a big step up from what many people deal with every day in every country of the world.
As a motorcyclist I disagree that the “tuk-tuk” style vehicles have “all the unsafeness(sic) of a bike and none of the mobility”. Sure you can tip one if you work at it, but that’s true of every vehicle someone can imagine.
I give the Bufalino concept vehicle a conditional Nomad Seal of Approval" subject to real-world trials.
I think my Volkswagen camper van is a lot more comfortable, and likely has a similar engine.
Feed the mice!